Disclaimer: I do not own any of the

main characters within this

fabrication. Their rightful owner

is Rumiko Takahashi. Please support

the official work.

Strangled Time

Chapter 39

After pushing back a strand of black hair, rough, calloused fingers followed a soft trail of skin before coming to a halt at the raise of a collarbone. They did not continue any lower—did not touch the cord or stone of the necklace resting there. Instead they redoubled their path from the chin, checking for any missed patches or stray hairs.

Saburo felt like an infant without his beard or stubble and he regretted shaving so close soon after his first pass. It would take three good days before the rough sandstone contoured his face to make him feel normal again, but until then he would be forced walk the mountain pass as a cherub skinned man-child. He rinsed his blade in a calm pool of the frigid stream and glowered at his reflection when the ripples settled their sway. Again strands of his wispy hair fell forward, tickling the bare naked skin and sending a shiver down his spine. There was no getting around it; he would have to put it up.

That stuffy topknot was not something he wanted to wear when he didn't absolutely have to—he truly did despise the thing and the thought of wearing it through the forest made him groan. Kagome already knew that he preferred his hair loose and he had no reason to continue creating that façade of propriety around her, but that hair near his neck was going to drive him completely insane.

So really, what other option did he have?

…

Kagome buried the embers of their morning fire to make sure they were completely smothered before checking the kettle to see if it had cooled down enough to safely tuck away in her pack.

"Is there anythin' ya want me to do, Miss Kagome?" She heard Saburo ask as he made his way back to the clearing from the stream. For some silly reason—which she completely and absolutely blamed Toga for—her breath hitched at the sound of his voice.

It wasn't that she hadn't seen Saburo as a man before she had that conversation with Togashimaru; she just hadn't seen him as a potential romantic love interest. The thought hadn't even crossed her mind because, quite frankly, she'd been a little preoccupied by more important matters. She wasn't there to pick up eligible bachelors or string anybody along. Her goals were simple: help Toga then get back home.

The priestess didn't think Saburo liked her that way, and she really, really hoped that he didn't. But Toga just had to go and plant that earwig in her brain. What if he did? Oh boy, was she going to have to reject Saburo? In the middle of a quest where they all had to stick close together? How totally awkward would that be!?

"N—no, you're good." Kagome shoved away their freshly washed breakfast bowls and pulled the drawstring tighter than necessary. The flap of the back was clicked shut over it. "I just finished up. Are you ready to—" She finally turned to with a flustered smile, trying hard to push away her thoughts and pretend like they never even popped up. But it seemed she was wasting her efforts trying, because as soon as she caught sight of him her mind was bleached to nothingness. All that remained was a fuzzy white static in her ear as she stared.

She stared and stared before shooting a befuddled stare over to Toga. The dog demon was also staring, only with narrowed eyes. Kagome turned back to Saburo, his face tomato paste red as her gaze slowly traveled up to a matching ponytail that sat so innocently at the top of his head.

Her laughter came out in rolling and uncontrollable barks.

Face freshly shaved and hair held high, Saburo had been transformed into Togashimaru's mirror alter ego. Same height, same build, strong jaws, only he was dark where Toga was light. Black hair vs. silver. Rich tan vs. pale velvet. Blue haori with black pants vs. burgundy haori with white pants. Human vs. demon. Yin vs. yang. Need she continue? It was hilarious!

"It's outta th' way!" The blacksmith protested, but Kagome wasn't listening.

She was having far too much fun imagining if that's what it would have been like to have a full human Inuyasha and a full demon Inuyasha traveling in the same party side by side.

…

Click, click, click, click, click.

Repetitive but soft, the sound did not cease until Togashimaru placed his clawed hand atop the hilt of his new sword. Oh how right it felt to have a weapon once more at his side. It brought comfort to him, even though his ability to adequately wield the blade was dubious. It was a security blanket, and the large demon felt no shame as he worried a metal leaf beneath the creamy cord wrap.

In front of him Kagome laughed at something the blacksmith had said. They seemed to have permanently switched bags at some point, with the priestess carrying Saburo's little hobo sack strapped across her back and the much larger man lugging the little woman's hulking yellow monstrosity. Sticking out from the confines of the pack, Togashimaru eyed the matching younger sibling to the tachi at his hip.

He frowned at that.

"Kagome." Her name spoken by his deep baritone was enough to get her to stop walking and give him her full and undivided attention.

"You okay, Toga?"

Togashimaru continued forward to them until he was close enough to pluck the kodachi from behind's Saburo's back.

"This will serve you poorly, so far from your reach." He said while unwinding the cord from around its sheath's basic mounting. Before Kagome could protest, Togashimaru handed her his walking stick and dropped stiffly to one knee. He wrapped the rope around her waist and twined it around the hooks before finishing it off with a secure bow. The sword rested horizontally at her waist, hanging just below the wrap of her belt.

"Are you sure that's right?" Kagome questioned him, holding the stick and her arms awkwardly above him. "It feels kind of weird."

"Are you questioning my ability to fasten a sword?" He scoffed and then, seeing where her eyes were straying, added, "If you carry this upside-down in your obi, I will not pity you when you lose your nose. Wear it like this; you will grow accustomed to the pull on your right side."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes master swordsman. Of course master swordsman. I promise not to cut my nose off."

The general hummed and rested an arm to his knee. "You say that, but I have seen the worrisome qualities of your technique."

"Well we can't all be kings of the mighty swish on day one."

"If it is the title of king that you aim to achieve, I regret to say that you shall be forever lost to your endeavor before you even begin. I may be able to train your hands, but augmenting gender is beyond my realm of expertise."

"Har har." Kagome cocked her hip and pressed his cane into the ground beside her to lean on. Then she held out to him a haughty hand fit for a queen. "Have you gotten comfortable down there in the dirt, Lord Togashimaru, or did you need help getting back up?"

Smirking, Togashimaru did not hesitate to take her hand.

Because quite honestly he wasn't sure that he would have been able to rise without it.

…

Out of the corner of his eye the dog demon kept surveillance on the human man walking beside him. Kagome had once more carried along ahead in search of the clearest path that would best accommodate Togashimaru's unsteady feet, leaving Saburo as his guardsman. The blacksmith thought that he was cunning with his surreptitious glances and veiled stares, but not a single one had gotten past the general's keen notice.

It had gotten quite annoying, actually. Togashimaru almost preferred the argumentative and fork-tongued lout to the brooding, conflicted Saburo he'd become since leaving the fox village.

Pulling the bottle of painkillers from his sleeve, the dog demon popped off its child-proof cap and shook two little pills into his hand. Saburo's eyes followed his every movement as he swallowed the medication that had been helping him to maintain his own gait without the blacksmith's physical assistance.

When Togashimaru shot an irritated glance over his shoulder, Saburo jerked his eyes away, only to creep back the moment the dog demon's focus returned to the deer path ahead of them.

Their little heart to heart over the construction of martial weapons be damned; the man was worse than a tick on his back.

…

They were slowing down, Kagome realized. It wasn't even noon yet and already their pace had already dropped to barely more than a crawl.

She peered over at Toga. His eyes were trained stiff on the ground in front of his feet as he pulled his steps forward one by one. He had promised her that he would speak up when he got tired or became uncomfortable—had promised that his pride wouldn't get in the way—but what if his compliance wasn't the problem? What if he was just way too focused on the end goal to even notice that he was starting to hurt more or that his tank was running on fumes? As much as the priestess wanted to give him flack for forcing himself, she didn't, because chances were he didn't even know he was doing it.

So, not wanting to point it out, Kagome decided to go with a different tactic to refocus his attention and get them all to take a break.

"Hey guys, do you mind if we stop for a little bit? My feet are starting to hurt and I want to make sure that these boots aren't giving me blisters."

Toga and Saburo both stopped in their tracks and looked to her with matching levels of concern. The dog demon was barely breathing heavier than the blacksmith, but Kagome noticed. And, gods, he was sweating. It was cold enough for frost to start forming and still he had a fine sheen of sweat sticking his long, choppy bangs to his brow.

"Are you gonna be alright, Miss Kagome?"

"Should you change into your original shoes?" Toga's brows curved up in a worried arch even as he subconsciously leaned most of his weight on his walking stick.

"Nah." She tapped the toe of her foot for good measure. "I just need to get off them every couple hours. They're not broken in yet." That was technically not a lie.

After a nod the dog demon closed his eyes and took in the scents around them. Fearing that he was going to call her bluff, Kagome bit her lip, but instead Toga gave a gentle smiled and asked, "Do you think you might be able to manage to the base of this valley? There is a freshwater spring there. It would be a good place for you to refill your water while we rest."

Both relieved and concerned that she had slipped so easily under his radar, Kagome settled for being grateful that he wasn't the type to argue over the necessity of breaks. And she just won herself an excuse for unlimited breaks.

"Sure." She scuffed the sole of one boot before moving to claim the spot directly beside her patient. If he looked worse or unsteady at any point, she was going to be there in reaching distance. "I think I'll manage."

…

Returning to the group from her bathroom break, Kagome pointedly ignored the stares of the men with an impish little grin. She puttered about filling water bottles, humming a mishmash melody of her favorite songs under her breath. She packed them all away except one.

That one she offered to Toga when she was unable to avoid his attention any further.

"What?" Kagome managed to ask without a giggle.

Toga scowled up at her. Skepticism tainting his movements, he slowly reached forward to take hold of the drink. Gold eyes accused behind thin slits. "Why is it I have the feeling that you are both mocking me?"

Batting her eyelashes with the falsest of innocence, Kagome flipped back her new and fluffy high ponytail before pursing her lips in a cute little pout.

"I have absolutely no clue what you're talking about, Toga."

Chapter End